Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the construction of houses by local authorities without a front and back exit is in compliance with building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3369/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Building Regulations 1997 to 2011 provide for the safety and well-being of persons in and around buildings (including dwellings). The legal requirements are set out in twelve parts (classified as A to M) in the Second Schedule to the Regulations. Technical Guidance Documents are published to accompany each part in order to outline how the legal requirements can be achieved in practice.

Part M / TGD M deals with access and use and specifies that adequate provision shall be made for people to access and use a building, its facilities and environs. Part B / TGD B deals with fire safety and specifies that a building shall be so designed and constructed that there are adequate means of escape in case of fire from the building to a place of safety outside the building.

Enforcement of the Regulations is a matter for the building control authority within the local authority in whose functional area the building concerned is located. Any concerns in relation to compliance of a particular building should in the first instance be brought to the attention of the local building control authority.